Multichannel NewsCharter Communications Friday pledged to create a chief diversity officer and add more minorities to its board of directors as part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) it signed with a dozen civic organizations serving communities of color.

As part of the MOU, Charter — which is waiting on the FCC to approve its proposed merger with Time Warner Cable and, in some quarters, facing off against skepticism from programming companies — has agreed to appoint an African-American, Asian-American/Pacific-Islander and one Hispanic-American to its newly formed board of directors once the merger is complete. Charter also said it will appoint a chief diversity officer to head its diversity and inclusion efforts.READ MORE

NAMICNAMIC has launched its call for nominations for the 2016 Next Generation Leader Awards, honoring emerging executives of color for their outstanding contributions to the success of their respective organizations. Business leaders age 45 and under are eligible for nomination. Awards are presented in four categories: Cable MSO, Cable Programmer, Technology Company/Disciplines and Creative Disciplines.

The nominations deadline for this year's Next Generation Leader Awards, presented in partnership with Multichannel News, is Feb. 15. Nominations may be submitted electronically by accessing the online submissions page here.READ MORE

Don't forget to update your NAMIC membership profile

Have you changed jobs? Moved to a new city? Remember to update your NAMIC membership profile. Login at NAMIC.com, and click on "Bio" to edit your information. Be sure to add an alternative email under the "Personal Information" section so we can always send you the most exciting news about NAMIC. Thanks!

ABC NewsAmid calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards over its all-white acting nominees and Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith both announcing they would sit out this year's ceremony, the academy's president said it was time for major changes — and soon. Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs issued a statement promising more diversity, and quickly, after both Lee and Pinkett spoke out Monday.READ MORE

Fox NewsChris Rock has not been shy about labeling Hollywood racist, once going so far as to call Los Angeles "a slave state" and calling showbiz "a white industry." But now the comedian finds himself front and center for the biggest controversy surrounding the Academy Awards in recent years, as celebrities and news outlets slam the Oscars for the lack of diverse nominees. Some fellow celebs are even calling on Rock to join in an Oscars boycott. The problem? He's set to host. READ MORE

The Washington PostJanell Ross, a reporter for The Fix, writes: "So, there really was no need — no need at all — for The Fix to weigh in on the mushrooming controversy about this year's crop of all-white Oscar nominees. This is interesting and arguably important cultural news — not politics, per se. But it became political when the actress and Fox News commentator Stacey Dash decided to share her views on it. Then, while she was at it, Dash decided to tell millions of people that the celebration of Black History Month and the very existence of the cable entertainment network, BET, are counterproductive and perhaps even racist endeavors, that should be ended."READ MORE

MashableThere are only a handful of YouTube stars who have made the switch to television and film, names including "EpicMealTime's" Harley Morenstein, singer Troye Sivan and comedian Bo Burnham. Australian YouTuber MyChonny, whose real name John Luc, is the latest to make the switch. The YouTuber has 2.3 million subscribers globally, and unlike many who've made the jump before him, he's not playing a bit part or an extra in a movie. He is also doing his bit to challenge Australia's well-known lack of cultural diversity in film, TV and theater.READ MORE

Broadcasting & CableFCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn said she expects the commission will soon launch a notice of inquiry (NOI) on access to over-the-top distribution channels by independent programmers. An NOI is an investigation and might or might not result in any regulation.
That came at an FCC commissioners panel at the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council's annual Broadband and Social Justice Summit in Washington Thursday.READ MORE

Broadcasting & CableConsultant and former top Clinton administration official Larry Irving read online video sites the riot act Wednesday over what he said was a lack of diversity in the board rooms and the programming suites and just about everywhere else. Irving was speaking at the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council's annual Broadband and Social Justice Summit Washington.READ MORE

HispanicAd.comUnivision Communications Inc. (UCI) and Onion Inc., a digital media company with comedy brands that include The Onion, announced that UCI's digital-arm is a minority investor in Onion Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Onion is a complementary extension of UCI's Spanish- and English-language digital portfolio, broadening the Company's multicultural, digital footprint and its reach with a highly coveted millennial audience. With more than 25 million engaged monthly uniques on Onion Inc.'s platform, UCI will expand its overall digital presence in multicultural, millennial focused content with this transaction.READ MORE

NAMIC-Minnesota Communications Committee Chair Derreck Moody has begun a new position as Sales Coach within the The Twin Cities Region Comcast Business SMB team

Are you a NAMIC Member who was recently promoted? Have you and your team won an award for your efforts in the industry? We want to highlight your achievements! Click here to let us know how you're becoming a mover and shaker.

Target Market NewsOn Feb. 1, UNIFY will launch itself as the only premium online video streaming service providing TV and film entertainment geared towards the African-American audience. With TV shows and movies spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s and original documentaries, sitcoms and dramas, UNIFY provides audiences with a variety of programming.

For a subscription fee of $5.99 a month, viewers can choose from hundreds of TV shows and movies to watch such as "In Living Color," "New York Undercover," "The Flip Wilson Show" and "The Best Man," to name a few.READ MORE

NAMIC JOB BANK

In an effort to provide a robust listing of job opportunities to NAMIC members, it is now FREE to post jobs on the NAMIC Job Bank. Please click on the link below to post a job today!

Here are just a few of the job postings listed. Click below to view all job postings.

HispanicAd.comAs we ease into a new year, we marketers are enthusiastically looking forward to seeing our 2016 marketing plans in action. Marketers who included online Hispanics in their plans should be rewarded by a large, growing audience which engages and transacts predominantly on smartphones. Those marketers who are not engaging digital Hispanics may want to look for ways to add them to this year's plan now.

A recent study by David Burgos of TNS research provides ample evidence for why smart marketers are engaging online Hispanics this year.READ MORE